Caritas India made a lasting impact at the South India CSR Conclave held in Bengaluru. Leading corporates, social enterprises, and civil society organizations came together to explore innovative pathways to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Organized on 4-5 March 2025 by FEVOURD-K in collaboration with Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, MSME & Startups Forum Bharat, the two-day event provided a vital platform for sharing replicable, community-driven solutions that can transform lives through strategic CSR partnerships.

Representing Caritas India at the conclave were Dr. Haridas V R, Team Lead of the Climate Desk, and Mr. Robert D’Souza, who showcased Caritas India’s tested and scalable interventions in disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, water conservation, and eco-friendly livelihoods.

During a panel discussion on “CSR Key Focus Areas for Better Actions,” Dr. Haridas shared insights on Caritas India’s C3 approach – Create, Connect, Collaborate- emphasizing how strategic collaborations can lead to sustainable social impact. He highlighted award-winning models that have already demonstrated success at the grassroots level and are ready for CSR-driven upscaling.

Caritas India presented a portfolio of high-impact, community-driven models that align with corporate CSR mandates:

• Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience: Strengthening community preparedness and response mechanisms to reduce vulnerabilities.
• Fracture Zone-Based Water Conservation: A scientifically tested method to recharge groundwater, ensuring long-term water security in drought-prone regions.
• Pollution-Free Poultry Farming (PFPF): A climate-resilient livelihood model promoting sustainable poultry farming with minimal environmental impact.
• Integrated Family Farming & Livestock Bank Models: Empowering smallholder farmers by integrating agriculture, livestock, and natural resource management to enhance food security and rural incomes.

These interventions are replicable and sustainable and aligned with the ESG and CSR objectives of forward-thinking corporations looking to invest in long-term, measurable social impact.

Caritas India emphasized that CSR should move beyond one-time charity initiatives to create self-reliant communities through long-term partnerships. Key takeaways from the discussion included:

➡ Strategic CSR investment should be need-based, addressing communities’ most pressing challenges.
➡ Corporates are innovation hubs—these innovations must reach grassroots levels for real impact.
➡ Focus on capacity transfer rather than just asset transfer, ensuring long-term sustainability.
➡ Women-centric and community-led models lead to deeper, more sustainable development outcomes.

Caritas India’s work in climate resilience and social impact is already recognized at the UN ECOSOC level, and the organization continues to receive accolades for its transformative programs. The conclave reinforced the urgent need for corporates to partner with proven models that align with their CSR goals and drive long-term social impact.

Caritas India invites CSR leaders, impact investors, and social enterprises to collaborate in scaling these high-impact models for a sustainable and equitable future. With scientifically tested, community-driven, and SDG-aligned solutions, Caritas India is ready to work alongside CSR partners to amplify social good at scale.